My first Substack post

Soon after retirement I became a volunteer water monitor for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [MPCA]. It’s a program that solicits water clarity and temperature data for lakes and streams across the state and uses that information to prioritize and direct professional environmental studies or interventions. The agency can then direct its limited resources to help target and track recovery for impacted waters. Each year there is an online magazine where volunteers can contribute words and pictures describing the past season’s experience. This is my submission - I thought it would be a way to test the Substack process.

if you want here is more info on the MPCA water monitor program.

Reflections - from Northfield & Bridgewater Township - 2023

I’m just starting my third season monitoring area streams and rivers.   Each year so far I picked up another site - not sure how long that trend will hold!   For now it is no big effort and a fun way for me to connect to and enjoy our local natural resources.

The picture above is the Cannon River in Northfield - my first assignment.   The sample location is just above the Ames Mill Dam and so even in periods of low water this view looks about the same.  Recently local officials and Post Consumer Brands - the current owners of the dam - are looking at ways to remove the dam and restore the river to its original flow.   I’m interested to see what happens to the water clarity reading if and when that happens.   

Later this year I will visit the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and bring a kit for water monitoring there too.   The last time I did this I found it very challenging!   Running the Secchi disk from the canoe sounds simple enough but if there is much wind or if you happen to be in a lake current the disk goes sideways.  Those of you monitoring lakes probably already knew but I found out that mornings or evenings were better.   I am super excited to be headed back there with my friends this summer.   

Thanks to all you water volunteers - when I first learned of this program the Reflections pages you offered were an inspiration!

Howl Lake - BWCAW